Cooling and/or freezing device

Abstract

A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit is disclosed having at least one carcass in which a cooled inner space is arranged and having at least one closure element by which the cooled inner space can be closed. The carcass has one or more contact elements at the carcass side and the closure element has one or more contact elements at the closure element side, wherein at least one switch is provided which allows a current flow through the contact elements in the closed state and prevents a current flow through the contact elements in the open state, wherein the switch is switched from its open state into its closed state upon reaching of a specific closing angle, and the switch is switched into the closed state as soon as or after the contact elements at the closure element side are in contact with the contact elements at the carcass side.

Claims

1. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit, comprising: at least one carcass in which at least one cooled inner space is arranged, the carcass including at least one contact element on a carcass side, at least one closure element, by means of which the cooled inner space can be closed, the closure element including at least one contact element on a closure element side, such that electrical power is transferable from the contact element on the carcass side to the contact element on the closure element side, and at least one switch which allows a current flow through the contact element on the carcass side and the contact element on the closure element side in the closed state and prevents a current flow through the contact element on the carcass side and the contact element on the closure element side in the open state, wherein the switch is switched from an open state into a closed state on a reaching of a specific closing angle of the closure element, wherein the switch is switched into the closed state as soon as or after the contact element on the closure element side is in contact with the contact element on the carcass side, wherein the switch comprises at least one switch cam to actuate the switch, wherein the switch comprises at least one movably arranged element which is configured to close the switch upon moving into the switch and open the switch upon moving out of the switch, and wherein the switch cam is movable and cooperates with the movably arranged element of the switch.

2. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the switch is only switched into the closed state upon reaching the closed state of the closure element.

3. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movably arranged element is a pin.

4. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the switch cam either (i) a slot-like surface, (ii) is disposed on the carcasses side, or (iii) has a slot-like surface and is disposed on the carcass side.

5. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the switch is disposed on the carcass side.

6. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the switch cam is movable in a direction which extends perpendicular to or obliquely to a plane formed by a front side of the carcass.

7. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the contact element on the carcass side includes a first end which contacts the contact element on the closure element side at least in the closed position of the closure element and a second end which cooperates with the switch cam at least in the closed position of the closure element.

8. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 3, wherein the pin is a spring-loaded pin.

Description

(1) Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. There are shown:

(2) FIG. 1: different views of the upper or lower end regions of the carcass and of the door with a slightly open door; and

(3) FIG. 2: different views of the upper or lower end regions of the carcass and of the door with a completely closed door.

(4) A plan view of the upper end region of the housing or of the carcass is shown in FIG. 1a. A transverse connection can be located in this upper end region.

(5) The contact unit 100 is arranged at the carcass side in this upper end region. As can be seen from the plan view in accordance with FIG. 1b, the contact unit 100 extends from the front side of the carcass or from the front side of the transverse connection to the rear, i.e. into the carcass, and has the required switch elements which are needed for interrupting and for releasing a current flow via the contact elements.

(6) In the Figures, the carcass or the carcass side of the unit is marked by the reference symbol K and the door or the door side by the reference symbol T.

(7) As can furthermore be seen from FIG. 1b, a switch cam 110 extends from the front side of the carcass and is pressed into the carcass by a contact surface 200 of the door T during the closing procedure of the door T, i.e. it is displaced in the direction of the carcass K.

(8) It can be seen from the sectional view (in accordance with the line A-A in FIG. 1a) in accordance with FIG. 1c that two contact surfaces 210, i.e. the ends of the contact elements 220 at the door side, are arranged in the door T. Cables extend via the contact elements 220 at the door side to a power consumer, not shown, at the door side such as a display, ice-maker, etc.

(9) The contact surfaces 210 in the position of the door T shown in FIG. 1 are still slightly spaced apart from the two contact elements 120 arranged at the carcass side.

(10) The switch cam is also marked by the reference numeral 110 in FIG. 1c. The contact pins 120 at the carcass side can be pushed together and moved apart in the manner of a telescope. They can be spring loaded such that they are in the extended state in the open state of the door T.

(11) The pushing of the switch cam 110 into the carcass takes place by laying the switch cam at the contact surface 200 at the door side in the course of the closing procedure of the door T taking place starting from FIG. 1.

(12) In this respect, the contact pins 120 at the carcass side are also pushed together until they are finally in electrically conductive contact with the contact surfaces 210 of the door.

(13) A switch, for example a miniature switch, which is actuated using the integrated switch cam 110 is marked by the reference numeral 300. The miniature switch 300 has a make contact which is actuated using a movably arranged and spring-loaded pin 310.

(14) In its end region facing the switch 300, the switch cam 110 has a slot-like surface 112 which is connected to the end region of the pin 310.

(15) In the position shown in FIG. 1c, the end surface of the pin 310 is in a recess of the slot 112 so that the pin 310 is not pressed into the switch 300 and the switch 300 is thus open. A current flow over the contact elements 120, 220 is prevented in this state since the switch is open.

(16) A spark formation between the contact elements 210 and 120 and the wear which results from this, including the melting of the contact surfaces, is avoided in this manner since a current flow is not possible.

(17) If the door is closed further starting from the state in accordance with FIG. 1 and is moved fully into its closed position, the positions in accordance with FIG. 2 are reached.

(18) Identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals in FIG. 2 as in FIG. 1. The views in accordance with FIGS. 2a to 2c correspond to those in accordance with FIGS. 1a to 1c with the difference that the door T is completely closed in FIGS. 2a to 2c.

(19) It in particular results from the sectional view in accordance with the line A-A in FIG. 2a, i.e. from FIG. 2c, that a contact takes place between the surfaces 210 and the pins 120 at the point marked by the reference numeral 400 so that a current flow can take place there.

(20) This is possible since the switch 300 is now closed. The closing of the switch 300 has taken place in thatas can be seen from FIG. 2cthe switch cam 110 was moved further into the carcass so that the end region of the pin 310 is now no longer in contact with the shown recess of the slot 112, but rather with a further projecting outer surface of the switch cam and is thus pressed into the switch 300. The switch is thereby closed and a current flow over the contact elements 210, 120 is possible.

(21) The present invention is naturally not restricted to doors as closure elements, but rather covers any desired closure element such as also shutters, flaps, etc.

(22) It is ensured due to the fact that the energy transfer only takes place during the closing procedure or only when the contact pins at the carcass side already contact the contact surfaces at the door that a spark formation and the wear resulting therefrom do not occur.